一反常态
yī fǎn cháng tài
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1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
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2 entirely outside the norm
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3 out of character
一瓶子不响，半瓶子晃荡
yī píng zi bù xiǎng , bàn píng zi huàng dang
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1 lit. a full bottle makes no sound; a half-filled bottle sloshes (idiom)
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2 fig. empty vessels make the most noise
不入虎穴，焉得虎子
bù rù hǔ xué , yān dé hǔ zǐ
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1 How do you catch the tiger cub without entering the tiger's lair? (idiom); Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
不见兔子不撒鹰
bù jiàn tù zi bù sā yīng
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1 you don't release the hawk until you've seen the hare (idiom)
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2 one doesn't act without some incentive
乱臣贼子
luàn chén zéi zǐ
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1 rebels and traitors (idiom)
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2 general term for scoundrel
仁人君子
rén rén jūn zǐ
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1 people of good will (idiom); charitable person
以子之矛，攻子之盾
yǐ zǐ zhī máo , gōng zǐ zhī dùn
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1 lit. use sb's spear to attack his shield (idiom, derived from Han Feizi 韓非子|韩非子); turning a weapon against its owner
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2 fig. to attack an opponent using his own devices
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3 hoist with his own petard
以小人之心，度君子之腹
yǐ xiǎo rén zhī xīn , duó jūn zǐ zhī fù
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1 to gauge the heart of a gentleman with one's own mean measure (idiom)
佳人才子
jiā rén cái zǐ
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1 beautiful lady, gifted scholar (idiom)
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2 pair of ideal lovers
兔子不吃窝边草
tù zi bù chī wō biān cǎo
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1 A rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its own burrow (idiom); One shouldn't do anything to harm one's neighbors.
出尔反尔
chū ěr fǎn ěr
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1 old: to reap the consequences of one's words (idiom, from Mencius); modern: to go back on one's word
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2 to blow hot and cold
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3 to contradict oneself
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4 inconsistent
刀子嘴，豆腐心
dāo zi zuǐ , dòu fu xīn
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1 to have a sharp tongue but a soft heart (idiom)
包子有肉不在褶上
bāo zi yǒu ròu bù zài zhě shàng
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1 a book is not judged by its cover (idiom)
又想当婊子又想立牌坊
yòu xiǎng dāng biǎo zi yòu xiǎng lì pái fāng
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1 lit. to lead the life of a whore but still want a monument put up to one's chastity (idiom)
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2 fig. to have bad intentions but still want a good reputation
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3 to want to have one's cake and eat it too
反唇相讥
fǎn chún xiāng jī
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1 to answer back sarcastically (idiom)
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2 to retort
反客为主
fǎn kè wéi zhǔ
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1 lit. the guest acts as host (idiom); fig. to turn from passive to active behavior
反败为胜
fǎn bài wéi shèng
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1 to turn defeat into victory (idiom); to turn the tide
反目成仇
fǎn mù chéng chóu
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1 to become enemies (idiom); to fall out with sb
反脸无情
fǎn liǎn wú qíng
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1 to turn one's face against sb and show no mercy (idiom); to turn against a friend
反裘负刍
fǎn qiú fù chú
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1 lit. to wear one's coat inside out and carry firewood on one's back (idiom)
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2 fig. to live a life of poverty and hard work
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3 fig. to act stupidly